From the Guidelines
At 1 year and 2 months of age, babies should say around 4-6 words, as indicated by the average age of attainment for speaking 4–6 words being around 15 months, which is close to the age in question. This range can vary considerably among children, with some saying fewer words and others having a larger vocabulary [modified from 1]. The first words usually refer to familiar people, common objects, or simple expressions. It's essential to understand that language development occurs at different rates for each child, and receptive language typically develops faster than expressive language. Some key points to consider in language development at this age include:
- Speaking first real words around 12 months [modified from 1]
- Speaking 4–6 words around 15 months [modified from 1]
- Speaking 10–15 words around 18 months [modified from 1] To support language development, parents should:
- Talk to their baby frequently
- Read books together daily
- Respond to their babbling
- Narrate daily activities, as these interactions create a rich language environment that helps build vocabulary and communication skills [based on general knowledge of child development, not directly from 1]. If a child isn't saying any words by 18 months, it would be appropriate to discuss this with their pediatrician 1.
From the Research
Language Development in Children
- At 1 year 2 months of age, the number of words a baby should say is not explicitly stated in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, these studies focus on the importance of parental involvement in speech and language therapy for children with speech sound disorders or language impairments.
- They highlight the need for collaboration between parents and speech-language therapists (SLTs) to support children's language development 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies also discuss the effectiveness of parent-implemented interventions and the role of digital health in increasing accessibility to intensive home practice 5.
- While the exact number of words a baby should say at 1 year 2 months is not provided, the studies emphasize the importance of early intervention and parental support in promoting language development 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Parental Involvement in Speech Therapy
- The studies suggest that parents play a critical role in their child's language development and that involving them in speech therapy can lead to better outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- SLTs can work with parents to develop strategies for supporting their child's language development at home 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The use of digital tools and parent-implemented interventions can also increase accessibility to intensive home practice and support parental involvement 5.